---
title: Mobile Browsers
description: These browsers are what we currently recommend for standard/non-anonymous internet browsing on your phone.
---
<small>Protects against the following threat(s):</small>
[{{< badge content="Surveillance Capitalism" color="purple" >}}](../../../wiki/basics/common-threats/index.md#surveillance-as-a-business-model)

<div class="pg-card-logos">
{{< cards >}}
  {{< card link="#brave" title="Brave" image="./brave.svg" subtitle="Brave Browser includes a built-in content blocker and privacy features, many of which are enabled by default. Brave is built upon the Chromium web browser project, so it should feel familiar and have minimal website compatibility issues." >}}
  {{< card link="#cromite-android" title="Cromite" image="./cromite.svg" subtitle="Cromite is a Chromium-based browser with built-in ad blocking, fingerprinting protections, and other privacy and security enhancements. It is a fork of the discontinued Bromite browser." >}}
  {{< card link="#safari-ios" title="Safari (iOS)" image="./safari.svg" subtitle="On iOS, any app that can browse the web is restricted to using an Apple-provided WebKit framework, so a browser like Brave does not use the Blink engine (the core component of Chromium) like its counterparts on other operating systems. Safari is the default browser in iOS." >}}
{{< /cards >}}
    </div>

These are our currently recommended **mobile web browsers** and configurations for standard/non-anonymous internet browsing. If you need to browse the internet anonymously, you should use [Tor](../tor/index.md) instead.

## Brave

**Brave Browser** includes a built-in content blocker and [privacy features](https://brave.com/privacy-features), many of which are enabled by default.

Brave is built upon the Chromium web browser project, so it should feel familiar and have minimal website compatibility issues.

{{< cards >}}
  {{< card link="https://brave.com" title="Homepage" icon="home" >}}
  {{< card link="https://brave.com/privacy/browser" title="Privacy Policy" icon="eye" >}}
{{< /cards >}}

[{{< badge content="Google Play" color="green" >}}](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brave.browser)
[{{< badge content="App Store" color="blue" >}}](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1052879175)
[{{< badge content="F-Droid" >}}](https://brave-browser-apk-release.s3.brave.com/fdroid/repo/index.html)
[{{< badge content="GitHub" >}}](https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases)

### Recommended Brave Configuration

Tor Browser is the only way to truly browse the internet anonymously. When you use Brave, we recommend changing the following settings to protect your privacy from certain parties, but all browsers other than the [Tor Browser](../tor/index.md#tor-browser) will be traceable by *somebody* in some regard or another.

=== "Android"

These options can be found in the menu → **Settings** → **Brave Shields & privacy**.

=== "iOS"

These options can be found in the menu → **Settings** → **Shields & Privacy**.

#### Brave shields global defaults

Brave includes some anti-fingerprinting measures in its [Shields](https://support.brave.com/hc/articles/360022973471-What-is-Shields) feature. We suggest configuring these options [globally](https://support.brave.com/hc/articles/360023646212-How-do-I-configure-global-and-site-specific-Shields-settings) across all pages that you visit.

Shields' options can be downgraded on a per-site basis as needed, but by default we recommend setting the following:

=== "Android"

    <div class="annotate" markdown>

    - [x] Select **Aggressive** under *Block trackers & ads*
    - [x] Select **Auto-redirect AMP pages**
    - [x] Select **Auto-redirect tracking URLs**
    - [x] Select **Require all connections to use HTTPS (strict)** under *Upgrade connections to HTTPS*
    - [x] (Optional) Select **Block Scripts** (1)
    - [x] Select **Block third-party cookies** under *Block Cookies*
    - [x] Select **Block Fingerprinting**
    - [x] Select **Prevent fingerprinting via language settings**

    <details class="warning" markdown>
    <summary>Use default filter lists</summary>

    Brave allows you to select additional content filters within the **Content Filtering** menu or the internal `brave://adblock` page. We advise against using this feature; instead, keep the default filter lists. Using extra lists will make you stand out from other Brave users and may also increase attack surface if there is an exploit in Brave and a malicious rule is added to one of the lists you use.

    </details>

    - [x] Select **Forget me when I close this site**

    </div>

    1. This option disables JavaScript, which will break a lot of sites. To unbreak them, you can set exceptions on a per-site basis by tapping on the Shield icon in the address bar and unchecking this setting under *Advanced controls*.

=== "iOS"

    <div class="annotate" markdown>

    - [x] Select **Aggressive** under *Trackers & Ads Blocking*
    - [x] Select **Strict** under *Upgrade Connections to HTTPS*
    - [x] Select **Auto-Redirect AMP pages**
    - [x] Select **Auto-Redirect Tracking URLs**
    - [x] (Optional) Select **Block Scripts** (1)
    - [x] Select **Block Fingerprinting**
    - [x] Select **Site Tabs Closed** under *Auto Shred*

    <details class="warning" markdown>
    <summary>Use default filter lists</summary>

    Brave allows you to select additional content filters within the **Content Filtering** menu. We advise against using this feature; instead, keep the default filter lists. Using extra lists will make you stand out from other Brave users and may also increase attack surface if there is an exploit in Brave and a malicious rule is added to one of the lists you use.

    </details>

    </div>

    1. This option disables JavaScript, which will break a lot of sites. To unbreak them, you can set exceptions on a per-site basis by tapping on the Shield icon in the address bar and unchecking this setting under *Advanced controls*.

##### Clear browsing data (Android only)

- [x] Select **Clear data on exit**

##### Social Media Blocking (Android only)

- [ ] Uncheck all social media components

#### Other privacy settings

=== "Android"

    <div class="annotate" markdown>

    - [x] Select **Disable non-proxied UDP** under [*WebRTC IP handling policy*](https://support.brave.com/hc/articles/360017989132-How-do-I-change-my-Privacy-Settings#webrtc)
    - [x] (Optional) Select **No protection** under *Safe Browsing* (1)
    - [ ] Uncheck **Allow sites to check if you have payment methods saved**
    - [ ] Uncheck **Javascript optimization & security** under the setting with the same name
    - [x] Select **Close tabs on exit**
    - [ ] Uncheck **Allow privacy-preserving product analytics (P3A)**
    - [ ] Uncheck **Automatically send diagnostic reports**
    - [ ] Uncheck **Automatically send daily usage ping to Brave**

    </div>

    1. Brave's [implementation of Safe Browsing](https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/15222663599629-Safe-Browsing-in-Brave) on Android **does not** proxy [Safe Browsing network requests](https://developers.google.com/safe-browsing/v4/update-api#checking-urls) like its desktop counterpart. This means that your IP address may be seen (and logged) by Google. Note that Safe Browsing is not available for Android devices without Google Play Services.

=== "iOS"

    - [ ] Uncheck **Allow Privacy-Preserving Product Analytics (P3A)**
    - [ ] Uncheck **Automatically send daily usage ping to Brave**

#### Leo

These options can be found in the menu → **Settings** → **Leo**.

    <div class="annotate" markdown>

- [ ] Uncheck **Show autocomplete suggestions in address bar** (1)

    </div>

1. This option is not present in Brave's iOS app.

#### Search engines

These options can be found in the menu → **Settings** → **Search engines**.

- [ ] Uncheck **Show search suggestions**

#### Brave Sync

[Brave Sync](https://support.brave.com/hc/articles/360059793111-Understanding-Brave-Sync) allows your browsing data (history, bookmarks, etc.) to be accessible on all your devices without requiring an account and protects it with E2EE.

## Safari (iOS)

On iOS, any app that can browse the web is [restricted](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines) to using an Apple-provided [WebKit framework](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/webkit), so a browser like [Brave](#brave) does not use the Blink engine (the core component of Chromium) like its counterparts on other operating systems.

**Safari** is the default browser in iOS. It includes [privacy features](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/browse-the-web-privately-iphb01fc3c85/ios) such as [Intelligent Tracking Prevention](https://webkit.org/blog/7675/intelligent-tracking-prevention), isolated and ephemeral Private Browsing tabs, fingerprinting protection (by presenting a simplified version of the system configuration to websites, so more devices look identical), and fingerprint randomization, as well as Private Relay for those with a paid iCloud+ subscription.

{{< cards >}}
  {{< card link="https://apple.com/safari" title="Homepage" icon="home" >}}
  {{< card link="https://apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/safari" title="Privacy Policy" icon="eye" >}}
{{< /cards >}}

### Recommended Safari Configuration

The following privacy/security-related options can be found in **Settings** → **Apps** → **Safari**.

#### Allow Safari to Access

Under **Siri**:

- [ ] Disable **Learn from this App**
- [ ] Disable **Show in App**
- [ ] Disable **Show on Home Screen**
- [ ] Disable **Suggest App**

This prevents Siri from using content from Safari for Siri suggestions.

#### Search

- [ ] Disable **Search Engine Suggestions**

This setting sends whatever you type in the address bar to the search engine set in Safari. Disabling search suggestions allows you to more precisely control what data you send to your search engine provider.

#### Profiles

Safari allows you to separate your browsing with different profiles. All of your cookies, history, and website data are separate for each profile. You should use different profiles for different purposes e.g. Shopping, Work, or School.

#### Privacy & Security

- [x] Enable **Prevent Cross-Site Tracking**

This enables WebKit's [Intelligent Tracking Protection](https://webkit.org/tracking-prevention/#intelligent-tracking-prevention-itp). The feature helps protect against unwanted tracking by using on-device machine learning to stop trackers. ITP protects against many common threats, but does not block all tracking avenues because it is designed to not interfere with website usability.

- [x] Enable **Require Face ID/Touch ID to Unlock Private Browsing**

This setting allows you to lock your private tabs behind biometrics/PIN when not in use.

- [ ] Disable **Fraudulent Website Warning**

This setting uses Google Safe Browsing (or Tencent Safe Browsing for users in mainland China or Hong Kong) to protect you while you browse. As such, your IP address may be logged by your Safe Browsing provider. Disabling this setting will disable this logging, but you might be more vulnerable to known phishing sites.

- [x] Enable **Not Secure Connection Warning**

This setting shows a warning screen if your connection to a website isn't using HTTPS. Safari will automatically try to upgrade the site to HTTPS, so you should only see this when there is no HTTPS connection available.

- [ ] Disable **Highlights**

Apple's privacy policy for Safari states:

> When visiting a webpage, Safari may send information calculated from the webpage address to Apple over OHTTP to determine if relevant highlights are available.

#### Settings for Websites

Under **Camera**

- [x] Select **Ask**

Under **Microphone**

- [x] Select **Ask**

Under **Location**

- [x] Select **Ask**

These settings ensure that websites can only access your camera, microphone, or location after you explicitly grant them access.

#### Other Privacy Settings

These options can be found in **Settings** → **Apps** → **Safari** → **Advanced**.

##### Fingerprinting Mitigations

The **Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection** setting will randomize certain values so that it's more difficult to fingerprint you:

- [x] Select **All Browsing** or **Private Browsing**

##### Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement

- [ ] Disable **Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement**

Ad click measurement has traditionally used tracking technology that infringes on user privacy. [Private Click Measurement](https://webkit.org/blog/11529/introducing-private-click-measurement-pcm) is a WebKit feature and proposed web standard aimed towards allowing advertisers to measure the effectiveness of web campaigns without compromising on user privacy.

The feature has little privacy concerns on its own, so while you can choose to leave it on, we consider the fact that it's automatically disabled in Private Browsing to be an indicator for disabling the feature.

#### Always-on Private Browsing

Open Safari and tap the Tabs button, located in the bottom right. Then, expand the Tab Groups list.

- [x] Select **Private**

Safari's Private Browsing mode offers additional privacy protections. Private Browsing uses a new [ephemeral](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/urlsessionconfiguration/1410529-ephemeral) session for each tab, meaning tabs are isolated from one another. There are other smaller privacy benefits with Private Browsing too, such as not sending a webpage’s address to Apple when using Safari's translation feature.

Do note that Private Browsing does not save cookies and website data, so it won't be possible to remain signed in to sites. This may be an inconvenience.

#### iCloud Sync

Synchronization of Safari History, Tab Groups, iCloud Tabs and saved passwords are E2EE. However, by default, bookmarks are [not](https://support.apple.com/HT202303). Apple can decrypt and access them in accordance with their [privacy policy](https://apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww).

You can enable E2EE for your Safari bookmarks and downloads by enabling [Advanced Data Protection](https://support.apple.com/HT212520). Go to **Settings** → **iCloud** → **Advanced Data Protection**.

- [x] Turn on **Advanced Data Protection**

If you use iCloud with Advanced Data Protection disabled, we also recommend setting Safari's default download location to a local folder on your device. This option can be found in **Settings** → **Apps** → **Safari** → **General** → **Downloads**.

## Criteria

**Please note we are not affiliated with any of the projects we recommend.** In addition to [our standard criteria](../../../about/criteria.md), we have developed a clear set of requirements to allow us to provide objective recommendations. We suggest you familiarize yourself with this list before choosing to use a project, and conduct your own research to ensure it's the right choice for you.

### Minimum Requirements

- Must support automatic updates.
- Must receive engine updates from upstream releases quickly.
- Must support content blocking.
- Any changes required to make the browser more privacy-respecting should not negatively impact user experience.
